Villein vs. Serf — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Villein and Serf
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Villein
A villein, otherwise known as cottar or crofter, is a serf tied to the land in the feudal system. Villeins had more rights and social status than those in slavery, but were under a number of legal restrictions which differentiated them from the freeman.
Serf
A member of the lowest feudal class, legally bound to a landed estate and required to perform labor for the lord of that estate in exchange for a personal allotment of land.
Villein
One of a class of feudal serfs who held the legal status of freemen in their dealings with all people except their lord.
Serf
An agricultural laborer under various similar systems, especially in Russia and eastern Europe in the 1700s and 1800s.
Villein
(historical) A feudal tenant, a serf.
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Serf
A person in bondage or servitude.
Villein
See Villain, 1.
Serf
A partially free peasant of a low hereditary class, attached like a slave to the land owned by a feudal lord and required to perform labour, enjoying minimal legal or customary rights.
Villein
(Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
Serf
A similar agricultural labourer in 18th and 19th century Europe.
Serf
(strategy games) A worker unit.
Serf
A servant or slave employed in husbandry, and in some countries attached to the soil and transferred with it, as formerly in Russia.
In England, at least from the reign of Henry II, one only, and that the inferior species [of villeins], existed . . . But by the customs of France and Germany, persons in this abject state seem to have been called serfs, and distinguished from villeins, who were only bound to fixed payments and duties in respect of their lord, though, as it seems, without any legal redress if injured by him.
Serf
(Middle Ages) a person who is bound to the land and owned by the feudal lord
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